The Effect of Mowings on the Nutritional Value of Annual Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) Varieties Grown in Different Agroclimatic Conditions of Central Anatolia

Abstract

Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is an important multipurpose forage grass crop of Turkiye. The aim of the study was to compare the yield potential of 5 local and exotic cultivars (Trinova, Vivaro, Elif, Caramba and Grasslands Bill) for their adaptability and appropriateness to long and short-term practices at Konya and Ankara locations of Central Anatolia during 2020-2021. Plant height, ADF, NDF, crude protein ratio, dry matter digestibility, relative feed value, fresh and dry forage yields, and crude protein yield were evaluated and compared. The highest dry forage yield in all three mowings was obtained from Caramba (1 mowing: 9869 kg ha(-1), 2 mowings: 17681 kg ha(-1), and 3 mowings: 22154 kg ha(-1)) at Konya location whereas, highest dry forage yield was obtained from Trinova with a maximum yield of 10452 kg ha(-1) while the difference in total dry forage yield among other cultivars was statistically non significant for 2 and 3 mowings at Ankara location. This study meets objectives by identifying varied potentials of the cultivars, and their suitability in hot and humid continental climate of Ankara and cold semi-arid climate of Konya in Central Anatolia.